“Even in our religion…” he began to say, when Hasasein interrupted: “His religion is Jewish!”

Mogahed agreed. “I know he’s Jewish, he donates to Israel and visited the Wailing Wall and whatever … we don’t need his shoe and Egypt’s poor don’t need help from someone with Jewish or Zionist citizenship.”

“People in Argentina sleep in parks!” Hasasein added.

Messi was born into a Catholic family, and has made the sign of the cross after scoring goals.

Some Egyptians criticised Messi, and his interviewer, on Twitter, using the hashtag “Messi’s boot for the Egyptian people.”

“It’s not your fault, Messi you dog. It’s the fault of that son-of-a-shoe channel, and that daughter-of-a-shoe interviewer,” wrote one.

Others, including former Egyptian football star Mido, defended Messi.

“The most precious thing a writer has is his pen, and the most precious thing a football player has is his boots,” he wrote on Twitter.

Nigeriana news connects you to Nigeria and to the whole world, wherever you are. Get latest headlines and original stories from Nigeria and around the globe. Follow up-to-the-minute reporting with breaking news and video. Stay informed with the latest Nigerian breaking news and world news anywhere and anytime from Nigeriana News.

Stay informed with the latest headlines and original stories from Nigeria and around the globe. Everything from politics to entertainment, business & economy, lifestyle, technology, sports, opinion, technology and more.